DVD Review: Adventure Films

From Walt Disney Home Entertainment

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets: 2-Disc Collector's Edition

Treasure hunter/historian/antiquities protector Ben Gates (Nic Cage), girlfriend/scholar Abigail (Diane Kruger) and tech whiz buddy Riley (Justin Bartha) go on a new adventure to clear Ben's family name of scandal and discover the legendary City of Gold (Cibola).

Video/Audio: (Note: Until more of our visitors get Blu-Ray players (including this reviewer) we will review the "regular" DVD format). The widescreen picture looked great on our Hi-Def set. Lots of browns and golds (including a golden city), flesh tones were accurate.. great picture. The sound in Dolby digital 5.1 was well-balanced and hefty in both action scenes and dialogue. No complaints.

Special Features: The "Commentary" track with director Jon Turteltaub and actor John Voight chatting away about real history and what was fabricated for the movie was fun and way less "dry" than your history class. Info on the historical locations was cool too. Worth a listen.

You get seven "Deleted Scenes" which are more interesting with Turtletaub's commentary on why good stuff was cut out. "The Treasure Reel" contains bloopers and outtakes that are pretty funny and worth a watch. The other featurettes really cover the "making of" bases well. You get a lot of behind-the-scenes footage that takes you to the set and real locales. "Secrets of a Sequel" is the basic overall coverage and it's interesting. "The Book of Secrets: On Location" transports you to the several overseas locations and "Street Stunts: Creating the London Chase" is a really cool feature breaking down the dangerous-looking car chase in the film. "Inside the Library of Congress" is almost like going on a field trip in that you get the behind-the-scenes tour. Interesting as well.

"Underground Action," "Cover Story: Crafting the Presidents' Book," "Evolution of a Golden City," and "Knights of the Golden Circle" all focus upon how true history was a springboard for a fictional story and include spokespeople for the "real" historic locations talking about everything from security checks to the usual tourist info. Really kinda cool.

Wrapping Up: This film is enjoyable for several reasons; really interesting historical "myths", great characters, amazing sets, fun action and effects and good acting. It was really cool to see Dame Helen Mirren who played The Queen, swinging over chasms like Indiana Jones... uh Jane along with her younger cohorts. This DVD looks and sounds great and has some really worthy and fun extras. This popcorn movie would make a great addition to your collection but, if you haven't seen it, be sure to rent it at least.

From Paramount Home Entertainment

Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection

Okay, many of us can't wait to see Shia LaBeouf in this re-birth of the classic action adventure but, if you haven't watched the original "Indy" films, you won't be that "up" on what all the buzz is really about. This new DVD set displays the original films very well.

In case you aren't an Indy fan from watching old video tapes or some early DVDs, here's the buzz: Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is both an archeology professor and rough-and-tumble explorer/adventurer back in the 1930's (the new film will update him to the 1950's). Each of the three films stands as a self-contained adventure as Indy discovers ancient treasures, protects innocents and basically rescues his dad. All of this is done with some great action and humor. You get the three films in this set:

Raiders of the Lost Ark intros us to Indy. It's 1936 and Indy is trying to locate the famous Ark of the Covenant which is supposed to make its owner invincible. Of course Hitler wants it! Teaming up with an old girlfriend Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen who will reprise this role in the new film) and funny guide Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) Indy risks life, limb and the supernatural to keep this artifact out of Nazi hands.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a much darker film which is supposed to take place before "Raiders". Indiana ends up with kid sidekick Short Round and a squeamish singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) on his escape from a Chinese mobster. Landing in an East Indian village, Indy is recruited by locals to rescue their stolen kids and some religious stones from an evil cult that is using the children as labor in a mine.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the last film in the series, is set in 1938 and focuses on a search for the Holy Grail and Indy's scholarly missing dad Henry (played wonderfully by 007's Sean Connery!). Partnering this time with hot Dr. Elsa Schneider, Indy is again up against the Nazis and an evil antiquities collector in this funnier dad/son bonding tale.

Video/Audio: The widescreen picture seems to be the same as when a DVD set was released back in 2003. Great color, crisp picture.. lookin' good. Really good Dolby digital sound. Love the music and the great sound effects and you don't lose any of the dialogue. Good job.

Special Features: This set gives you the extras for each film on that movie's disc rather than putting all of them on a single, extra disc as in the 2003 set. I found that to be more "handy".

You get a lot of features and, from what I can tell, they are all new to this release. It's delightful to see Spielberg, George Lucas, Frank Marshall and other filmmakers talking today about their memories. Time has given them some great perspective. Lucas and Spielberg even chat amiably about their disagreements! Super interesting!

Each film has an "Introduction" by Spielberg and Lucas talking about everything from the genesis of the films and scripts to sequel choices and which film most appeals to each of them and why. Spielberg is more fond of "Temple of Doom" than Lucas because he fell in love with his future wife Kate Capshaw on set! There aren't any Commentaries to roll over the films but these intros do give you all that info and more. Harrison Ford also pops up occasionally with his comments.

On Raiders of the Lost Ark you get: "Indiana Jones: An Appreciation" in which the cast of the upcoming "Crystal Skull" film talk about their memories of the original movie. Shia is included.. He was age 8! "The Melting Face!" includes Special Effect guru Chris Wallas talking about how this impressive and icky effect was achieved back in the day. You also get "Storyboards" for the Well of Souls scene, some photos and prop drawings, production pix etc. Cool. You get a "Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Game" teaser.

On Temple of Doom we have Spielberg and Lucas again as well as: "The Creepy Crawlies" which tells and shows you all about the bugs, snakes, etc. used in the film and how non-thrilled most of the cast was to work with them. There is a pop-up trivia choice too. "Travel with Indy: Location" has crew and cast talking about all the cool locations used in the film. You also get "Storyboards" for the Mine Cart Chase, some pictures and drawings, production pix and portraits.

For Last Crusade we have the Spielberg/Lucas intro and why they both think this film was the best of the three. "Indy's Women" is an interesting chat with the lead ladies of the three films shot at an American Film Institute tribute. Very enjoyable. "Indy's Friends and Enemies" covers the good and bad guy supporting actors and characters of all three films. Cool! You also get the "Storyboards" for the Opening Sequence and the photo gallery, props and drawings and production pix etc.

Wrapping Up: If you don't have the 2003 version, you really should get this well-produced DVD set. These films are timeless and totally hold up today. It's cool to see the filmmakers looking back. If you've got the 2003 version in your home, you should maybe still rent this for the special features alone. So, check it out to get ready for the new film!!!

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.